I like MIlls, but his SR at international 20-20 level in 26.1 and while Diamanti is still unproven, he has a domestic SR of 13.6, can supposedly swing the ball & gets decent players out though this may be journo BS.

Still it was 50-50 between the 2 and I like Mills as a person, so hopefully he can have a good tournament.

Does anyone remember Southee in England in his first series away from home? He absolutley dominated infact I think he got player of the series, he would of came into serious contention.

Southee is a promising talent for NZ.

I think too much was expected from him too soon in the test format (considering he's still only 20!).

He has a good control of swing, will naturally add some pace by the time he's 23/24 and will have gained experience. I'm sure his stats will go in the right direction.

He can hold a bat too so I believe long term he'll be in all 3 forms of the game for NZ.

However, I would put him in the limited overs formats (especially being in England). His stats in England in ODI = 13 wickets @ 18.23, 20.3 SR, 5.38 Eco.

There's no guarantee he'll be as good in T20, but considering he has experience of bowling well in English conditions, I'm surprised he isn't even in the squad unless he's injured which I haven't heard about (?).

Sure, he looks like the fat version of Shia LaBoeuf but picks up handy wickets and can bowl straight.

Is it Brendan's preferance to be an outfielder instead of WK?

He did it for Kolkata, but he isn't a hack by any means behind the stumps (do you want to swap him for Prior?) and pulled off some athletic catches against us.

It takes the place of a useful bowler having a WK in the team, and especially costly if he's nowhere near as good as McCullum.

What's the talk in NZ in that regards?

Na McCullums probably the best keeper in the world, but whenever he can avoid the strain on his back he hands the gloves over to specialist wicket keepers like McGlashan. McGlashan may make the team with his batting, in T20 he may be able to edge out Styris if he is on form.

Taylor is about the only one of the batsmen who has more than a snowball in hell's chance of making a good significant contribution leading to a good total when the rest merely chip in. If his across the line slogging doesn't come off then it's going to be below par scores pretty much every time. Bowling is mediocre. Once another team fires against NZ then NZ have got nothing to fire back with. In T20 you're even less likely to win without the raw talent the likes of India have in abundance. I can't see the pitches being horribly slow, which is the main thing that would give NZ a chance of winning.

Na McCullums probably the best keeper in the world, but whenever he can avoid the strain on his back he hands the gloves over to specialist wicket keepers like McGlashan. McGlashan may make the team with his batting, in T20 he may be able to edge out Styris if he is on form.

Fair enough. You can't have a crocked McCullum.

Originally Posted by Uppercut

Is anyone?

I think Boucher is as good allround. Not quite as athletic as McCullum but just as safe a pair of hands.

Foster is as good with the gloves too IMO, though obviously nowhere near as good with the bat and isn't really an "international" even if he has played for us before.

I actually think De Villiers was as good with the gloves too, but obviously Boucher is there.

Bouch isn't bad at all. Probably takes the same percentage of catches as McCullum, not quite so spectacular but McCullum misses very straightforward catches occasionally. The thing is, he hasn't had to stand up to many spinners over the years, which is what really separates the top keepers from the good ones.

Of course, i can only limit this to international players who i see a great deal of. The best keeper around is probably nowhere near good enough with the bat to play for one of these teams. I'd nominate Jeroen Smits as one of the best behind the stumps I've seen.

Bouch isn't bad at all. Probably takes the same percentage of catches as McCullum, not quite so spectacular but McCullum misses very straightforward catches occasionally. The thing is, he hasn't had to stand up to many spinners over the years, which is what really separates the top keepers from the good ones.

Ja, Boucher will never fly way outside leg stump to catch a tickle from the bat to make the catch but equally you know if someone skies a top-edge which almost hits a plane and swirls around in the English wind and he's underneath- he'll catch it. It must be great for the Saffie bowlers to have him behind the stumps.

Boucher is definitely 1 of, if not THE best WK to pace bowling I've seen, and especially, on bouncy South African tracks. He's had to deal with Donald, Pollock, Ntini (he used to bowl pretty fast 1998-2003, often clocked 90mph), Hayward (when he was bowling 90mph+ ca 1999-2002), Steyn (luckily the wickets in SA aren't as fast and boucny as in the 90's!), Klusener (when he was a genuine "fast" bowler- and at the begin of Boucher's career to boot!), Ngam (does anyone remember him?) etc.

Of course, i can only limit this to international players who i see a great deal of. The best keeper around is probably nowhere near good enough with the bat to play for one of these teams. I'd nominate Jeroen Smits as one of the best behind the stumps I've seen.

Smits is the captain of Holland so I'll see him in action in the World 20-20. I can't say I remember seeing him at all but it'll be good to see how he goes.

i always like newzealand, they do so well & in big tournaments, whenever we reached final, newzealand lost to Pakistan lol
well just kidding
they're a good side
they can beat any team & i like them
be ready for an upset this time

i always like newzealand, they do so well & in big tournaments, whenever we reached final, newzealand lost to Pakistan lol
well just kidding
they're a good side
they can beat any team & i like them
be ready for an upset this time

Losing off Imran Nazirs bat too, irrc.

That was the depressing bit.

Originally Posted by Athlai

Jeets doesn't really deserve to be bowling.

Originally Posted by Athlai

Well yeah Tendy is probably better than Bradman, but Bradman was 70 years ago, if he grew up in the modern era he'd still easily be the best. Though he wasn't, can understand the argument for Tendy even though I don't agree.

Taylor is about the only one of the batsmen who has more than a snowball in hell's chance of making a good significant contribution leading to a good total when the rest merely chip in. If his across the line slogging doesn't come off then it's going to be below par scores pretty much every time. Bowling is mediocre. Once another team fires against NZ then NZ have got nothing to fire back with. In T20 you're even less likely to win without the raw talent the likes of India have in abundance. I can't see the pitches being horribly slow, which is the main thing that would give NZ a chance of winning.

I'm a New Zealand fan and all, but without trying to sound bias we have one of the best top fours in the 20/20 world cup. I know a lot of people don't like McCullum and that's fair enough but a lineup containing Ryder, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Oram is usually going to score a few runs in a 20/20 match. I just wish Taylor would throw away that slog six shot he has, and only use it maybe once, twice an innings.